Tamoxifen is a synthetic hormone that is an "adjuvant" or helper medication in chemoprevention therapy to prevent breast cancer. Tamoxifen works by blocking estrogen, which is a hormone that tends to increase breast cancer cell growth. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), if women with a personal or family history of breast cancer take tamoxifen for 5 years, a 48 percent reduction in the likelihood of developing breast cancer will result. There are risks involved with taking tamoxifen, but the NIH asserts the benefits outweigh the risks.
Some Cancer Likelihood Prevented
The Mayo Clinic states that a positive aspect of taking tamoxifen is that it reduces the chances of getting cancer in the other breast if there was already cancer found in one breast. The chances of getting breast cancer is also reduced for a woman with a family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative.
Some Cancer Likelihood Increased
A negative aspect is that the chances of getting uterine cancer is slightly increased by taking tamoxifen. Other maladies made more likely by taking tamoxifen include cataracts, blood clots, hot flashes and vaginal discharge.
Effect on Cancer Cells
The Mayo Clinic states that a good thing about taking tamoxifen is that it inhibits the growth of cancer cells in women with hormone receptor positive cancer, but if a woman has hormone receptor negative cancer, tamoxifen treatment has no discernible effect.
Bone Density
Premenopausal women who take tamoxifen increase their bone density. Postmenopausal women tend to lose bone density slower when using tamoxifen.
Cost
Tamoxifen treatment is less expensive than other cancer preventative treatments such as aromatase inhibitors.
Term
Tamoxifen treatment must continue up to 5 years to be effective.
